Lagos, Nigeria | AFP | Sunday 7/24/2016 - 10:58 GMT |

by Joel Olatunde AGOI

Nigeria on Sunday celebrated two years without a new case of polio, in a major stride towards Africa being declared free of the devastating disease.

If no new case is reported by July 2017, Nigeria will be certified free of the virus, which mainly affects children under five and can leave its victims crippled or dead.

As recently as 2012, Nigeria seemed to be losing the battle against polio, recording more than half of all global cases.

But these days the disease is only endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Nigeria has not seen a case of "wild" polio -- contracted person-to-person or through contaminated water -- since July 24, 2014, when a child was left paralysed in the impoverished northern state of Kano.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday hailed the progress towards wiping out polio, but said more needed to be done keep up the momentum.

"The next major milestone for us as a country is the certification of polio-free status in 2017 by the World Health Organization," he said in a statement.

A sporadic case occurred in August 2014 in Somalia but Nigeria is the last African country where polio was endemic.

"As long as a single child remains infected, children in all countries are at risk of contracting polio," the WHO says on its website.

"Failure to eradicate polio from these last remaining strongholds could result in as many as 200 000 new cases every year, within 10 years, all over the world."

- Suspicion over vaccines -

Nigeria had struggled to contain the virus after some northern states imposed a ban on vaccinations in 2003.

Immunisation teams were attacked and even killed as rumours spread about vaccine safety -- a phenonemon also seen in Pakistan, where suspicions grew after the CIA ran a fake vaccine drive to help track down Al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden in 2011.

In northern Nigeria, immunisation bans followed allegations by some state governors and religious leaders that vaccines were contaminated by Western powers to spread sterility and HIV among Muslims.

Independent tests ordered by the government in 2004 declared that the vaccines were safe, but hostility to vaccination drives has remained in some areas.

Boko Haram's bloody six-year Islamist insurgency has also created major security issues for efforts to vaccinate children in the north.

Health Minister Isaac Adewole said the government would get "people out of their comfort zones to further enhance the quality of polio campaigns, reach children in difficult areas and continue to improve routine immunisation."

Buhari meanwhile pledged to work with international partners "to ensure that this disease is wiped off the face of the earth for good".

Nigeria has budgeted 12.6 billion naira ($42.5 million, 38.8 million euros) in 2016 for vaccinations and other programmes to combat childhood diseases such as polio, yellow fever and measles, he added.

Modibo Kassogue, immunisation manager in Nigeria for UNICEF, told AFP that funding was crucial.

"They must also improve monitoring, increase levels of routine immunisation and strengthen the overall health system to prevent the return of polio," he said.

And he said plenty needed to be done in Nigeria to stop children dying of other diseases.

Treatable infectious diseases such as malaria, pneumonia, diarrhoea, measles and HIV/AIDS account for more than 70 per cent of the estimated one million under-five deaths in Nigeria every year, according to UNICEF.

"In Nigeria, one child out of every 13 born dies before reaching age one, and one in every eight does not survive till their fifth birthday," Kassogue said.

joa/kjl/ri

© 1994-2016 Agence France-Presse

The conflict in Borno State started in 2009 when Boko Haram launched attacks in Bauchi, Borno, Yobe and Kano. By 2014, Boko Haram controlled large swathes of territory in Borno State.

In 2015, Nigeria elected a new President who vowed to take back control of territory from Boko Haram and also stamp out corruption in the country. Since then the Nigerian army has been engaged in fighting with Boko Haram, including by launching airstrikes that began in 2016, in areas under Boko Haram control. The army has now taken back many cities and villages and is securing them.

The nature of the conflict between the Nigerian army and Boko Haram has changed to include military assistance from the neighbouring countries of Chad, Cameroon and Niger.

Boko Haram, also known as Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), has carried out and continues to carry out attacks, suicide bombings and incursions in Borno State and also in neighbouring countries. As a result of the conflict, 2.7 million people are displaced across the four countries (Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger) according to Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

MSF Projects

Maiduguri

MSF has been working in Maiduguri on a permanent basis since April 2014 and had previously intervened on several occasions to help control cholera epidemics. Today, more than 1.2 million internally displaced people (IDPs) are living in Maiduguri, most of them with the host community and others in camps (informal camps and 11 official camps).

In Maimusari and Bolori health centres, MSF runs an outpatient department (OPD; 400 consultations per day in Maimusari and 300 in Bolori), an Ambulatory Therapeutic Feeding Centre (ATFC; where people seen on an outpatient basis) and a maternity ward assisting simple deliveries.

In Maimusari, the government has just handed a new building over to MSF, which which allow us to evolve from a basic health care centre to a comprehensive healthcare facility with hospitalisation capacity. MSF has recently moved its outpatient activities (OPD and ATFC) inside this new building and next week will open an inpatient department with 50 beds for paediatrics and 10 beds for referrals from camps outside Maiduguri.

In Gwange, a Maiduguri district, MSF now has an 100-bed Inpatient Therapeutic Feeding Centre (ITFC) that has received people referred from Bama (18) and Dikwa (27) on 20 July. The ITFC is under tents, in the compound of health centre run by the Ministry of Health.

Epidemiological surveillance continues in the 11 official camps and in Mouna camp, an informal settlement with around 15,000 people. People arriving in Maiduguri go first to a camp where there are security screened by the army, then go either to Mouna camp, a camp close by set up on a private land, or to Custom camp made of unfinished buildings hosting between 2,000 and 3,000 people.

The disease surveillance system is now being strengthened to react rapidly to emergencies popping up in Maiduguri and on its outskirts. Since last week, cases of measles have been reported inside Maiduguri in the so-called “Arabic teaching college” camp and outside Maiduguri in Konduga, the last big town on the road to Bama that is for now accessible without escort. MSF teams are undertaking containment and case management at these sites.

Bama

Between 13 and 15 June, Nigerian authorities and a local NGO organised the evacuation of 1,192 people requiring medical care from the Bama area to the city of Maiduguri, capital of Borno State. This group of mostly women and children was placed in the “Nursing Village” camp for internally displaced people. Out of the 466 children screened by MSF in the camp, 66 per cent were emaciated, and 39 per cent had a severe form of malnutrition. Upon assessment, 78 children had to be immediately hospitalised in the MSF feeding centre, which has an inpatient capacity of 86 beds.

A team visited Bama with a military escort for the first time on 21 June and found people in a catastrophic situation. Out of the 800 children screened, 19 per cent were suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM). Estimates of mortality at that time were very high. Medical data from the health centre reported 188 deaths between 23 May and 21 June, mainly from diarrhea and malnutrition; counting of the graves in the cemetery behind the camp showed more than 1,200 graves had been dug since the internally displaced had gathered in the hospital compound. Five children died whilst the assessment was being undertaken.

MSF returned to Bama mid-July. Today, Bama is a ghost town held by the army. People live in a camp inside the hospital compound. Despite 1,500 people being evacuated by the authorities and some food distribution, the estimated malnutrition rates remain high (severe acute malnutrition is estimated at 15 per cent). An estimated 10,000 to 12,000 internally displaced (official figures 27,000) are living in terrible conditions in shelters made of rusty corrugated iron sheeting and cannot leave the camp. There are hardly any men or boys older than 12. We don’t know what has happened to them.

Another MSF team arrived on 19 July to provide medical and nutritional support: Ambulatory Therapeutic Feeding Centre, consultations, set up seven beds for observation and stabilisation, and improve water quality through chlorination. A referral system to Maiduguri has been organised with SEMA (State Emergency Management Agency) via ambulances and school buses.

Monguno

An estimated 150,000 people, including 65,000 internally displaced, are living in Monguno. They have had almost no access to health care since January 2015.

A team visited Monguno last week and will return again soon. The UNICEF clinic and the ALIMA clinic are currently overwhelmed. MSF are planning to restart activities in the hospital, which has not been operational for several months. First an inpatient department will be set up under tents in the hospital compound. There will be 50 beds for general cases and 50 beds for malnutrition cases.

Dikwa

Dikwa is located in an enclaved area on the frontline. An MSF team undertook a two-day assessment this week. The estimated population in the camp for internally displaced is around 55,000, with new arrivals still streaming in from the new open areas. The majority of Dikwa's inhabitants (40,000) left for Maiduguri in 2014, and around 12,000 stayed and moved into the camp. Other people have arrived from the surrounding villages. Water is a big concern in the camp, both the quantity and the quality.

Dikwa was largely deserted until the governor allowed people to visit the town and to farm the surrounding land. On 20 July, the Dikwa population were allowed to visit their houses which are being repaired by government construction workers.

UNICEF and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have been running a clinic in the camp for several months, and the ICRC distributes food every day. A rapid screening by MSF showed that 12.5 per cent of children were suffering from severe acute malnutrition. We are considering opening an Inpatient Therapeutic Feeding Centre and an Ambulatory Therapeutic Feeding Centre in the general hospital, which is currently empty.

Government in South Sudan appeals to its people to stay, as hunger and violence force many to return to Sudan only five years after independence

To survive, there is no other option but to cross the river back to Sudan, says Ajak Adong, a mother of six, as she cooks a lunch of leaves. It’s all the family has been eating since arriving in the border town of Kiir Adem two months ago.

Read the full article on The Guardian

The Secretary-General condemns the recent fighting in Kidal, Mali, which erupted on 21 and 22 July between two armed groups signatory to the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation in Mali. He deplores this first violation of the ceasefire since September 2015, which occurred at a time when the stakeholders were progressing with the establishment of an interim authority in the northern regions.

He calls upon the leaders of the two signatory armed groups to restore calm and reminds them of their commitments and obligations with regard to the protection of civilians, in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions and international law.

At this crucial juncture in the peace process, the Secretary-General urges the signatory parties to take the necessary steps for the swift and full implementation of the peace agreement, including the immediate establishment of interim authorities and security arrangements.

The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) will continue to do its utmost to protect civilians and carry out its mandate, including the restoration of state authority, in accordance with Security Council resolution 2295 (2016).

New York, 22 July 2016

In coordination with the Inter-Cluster Working Group, the Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) Cluster continues to advocate for non-creation of new camp-like settings in Juba. Humanitarian interventions should be aimed at providing temporary emergency assistance that will not serve as a pull factor for IDPs to remain in the sites.
OCHA reports that 15,061 people remain displaced by the insecurity in Juba. Of these, 10,838 people are sheltering in the UN Tong Ping and UN House bases. An estimated 4,223 IDPs are staying in three collective centres.

UNMISS TONGPING

CCCM
• Estimated population figure remains at 4,000.
• Camp management is coordinating shelter allocation with the camp leadership.
• Dead body management procedures have been established.
• Coordination on relocation ongoing with UN House camp management team and UNMISS.
• Site improvement has begun with support from UNMISS engineering.

Shelter/NFI
• IOM shelter team erected two complete communal shelters and completed the frame structure for the third shelter. • Shelter construction and site development will continue 22 July.

WASH
Water
• IOM delivered 72,000 litres of safe drinking water at a rate of 18 litres per person per day.
• Four water points are complete, with the fourth completed by UNICEF, as well as 30 water taps.
• Construction of the water tank tower and installation of the tap stand for IOM clinic nearly complete. Drainage improvements continue.
• IDPs have access to 36 latrines, with four additional latrines under construction. UNICEF will begin construction of bathing facilities.
• The 20 hygiene promoters were trained, with a focus on cholera messaging.

Health
• The IOM clinic conducted 165 consultations.
• 37 health and hygiene promoters were trained on cholera messaging.
• 50 body bags were donated to Juba Teaching Hospital.
• 27 health and hygiene promoters were trained in collaboration with IOM WASH.
• Testing results of suspected cholera case from 18 July has been returned morphologically negative; serological results pending.

Food Security and Livelihoods
• WFP and World Vision provided 462 children under five with blanket supplementary feeding.

Protection
• UNHCR and Nonviolent Peaceforce undertook a protection assessment in the site. Results to be shared

In coordination with the Inter-Cluster Working Group, the Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) Cluster continues to advocate for non-creation of new camp-like settings in Juba. Humanitarian interventions should be aimed at providing temporary emergency assistance that will not serve as a pull factor for IDPs to remain in the sites.
OCHA reports that 15,061 people remain displaced by the insecurity in Juba. Of these, 10,838 people are sheltering in the UN Tong Ping and UN House bases. An estimated 4,223 IDPs are staying in three collective centres.

UNMISS TONGPING

CCCM
• Estimated population figure remains at 4,000.
• Meeting held with site ‘community representatives’ on several issues inclusive allocation of shelters.
• Transit site development ongoing. Levelling of site to start 23 July.

S&NFI
• UNMISS engineers continued site development – levelling / ground preparation.
• IOM shelter team completed construction of 7 communal shelters which will accommodate 360 individuals. Construction of more shelters is continuing.
• Marram delivery was halted due to a breakdown of the quarry machinery.

WASH
Water:
• Total amount of water delivered by IOM is 60000 liters (15l/p/p/d).
• Total number of water points is 4.
• Total number of functional taps is 30 taps with one tap serving 133 persons.

Sanitation:• Total number of functional latrines is 36 with 111 person per one latrine.
• Construction of 40 stances of latrines ongoing. One block of 20 stances at super-structure while the other block is at sub-structure.
• 12 cubic meters of sludge de-sludged from the UNMISS latrines.
• Total number of HPs is 30 with 1 HP per 133 persons on ground and working.
• The total number of the latrines cleaners is 20 LCs on ground and working.
• The total number of garbage collectors is 20 GCs on ground and working.
• The total garbage collected is 16 cubic meters.
• 6 Handwashing stations installed/constructed with two Hygiene Promoters mobilizing people to wash their hands.

Health• 139 consultations
• 37 health and hygiene promoters received further training.
• New suspected Cholera case detected – individual referred to Juba Teaching Hospital.
• community based death (Non cholera related) recorded.

FSL
• Discussions ongoing among the food partners for a response for IDPs in Tong Ping.

In coordination with the Inter-Cluster Working Group, the Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) Cluster continues to advocate for non-creation of new camp-like settings in Juba. Humanitarian interventions should be aimed at providing temporary emergency assistance that will not serve as a pull factor for IDPs to remain in the sites.
OCHA reports that 15,061 people remain displaced by the insecurity in Juba. Of these, 10,838 people are sheltering in the UN Tong Ping and UN House bases. An estimated 4,223 IDPs are staying in three collective centres.

UNMISS TONGPING

CCCM
• Estimated population figure remains at 4,000.
• Camp management is supporting the movement of the population to provide space for shelter construction.
• Working with the community representatives regarding shelter allocation

S&NFI
• Completed construction of 2 shelters. Total Number of shelters now on site = 11 with total capacity for 600 individuals.
• UNMISS engineers continued site development – leveling / ground preparation.
• Marram delivery continues to be a challenge due to a breakdown of the quarry machinery.

WASH
• Total water deliverd 66,000 liters (16.5 liters per person)
• 57 Hygiene Promoters are sending health and hygiene messages to displaced persons in the site
• 4 water points are active
• Total number of taps is 30 with IHP per 133 persons on ground
• 20 garbage collectors are actively clearing the site of debris and rubbish
• The construction of 20 stances of female latrines is ongoing and estimated completion within 24 hours. Male block to be completed by 24 July

Health
• 191 consultations
• Top morbidities were malaria, ARI and AWD
• No new suspected cholera cases.

FSL
• Nutrition screening exercise undertaken

Protection
• Transfer of one case in need of medical attention from Tongping to UN House

By Kieran Guilbert

DAKAR, July 20 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - A surge in violence in northern Mali and a spike in attacks on aid workers are hindering the delivery of food, water and healthcare to millions of people, aid agencies said on Wednesday.

Read the full story here.

Favorable rainfall patterns allow for intensive agriculture activities across the country

Key Messages

• Despite the typical increase in seasonal household demand, the price of staple cereals (with the exception of maize), remain stable as compared to the five year average. Additionally, the seasonal availability of wild forage foods will allow households to access enough food for at least two meals a day. The country will thus remain in Minimal (IPC Phase 1) acute food insecurity.

• Agriculture activities dominated by planting, weeding, and fertilizer application has begun normally throughout the country thanks to adequate spatial and temporal distribution of rainfall. Cumulative rainfall for the season is similar to or above normal (as compared to 1981-2010 average) with some pockets of slight deficit in the East, South-West, Sahel and Boucle du Mouhoun regions (Mété Burkina).

• Due to the normal start date of the agricultural season, the demand and cost of agricultural labor for planting and weeding remains average. Other key sources of income for poor households are stable, this includes sale of wood, charcoal, and livestock. Notably the prices of rams and goats are similar to the five year average.

A prisoner of climate change, Nouakchott faces challenges of flooding and erosion that have been exacerbated by preparations for the Arab League summit

By Alex Duval Smith

The two events are not unrelated. As heads of state fly into Nouakchott’s new airport for the Arab League summit on Monday, Vieux Fall will be raising the roof – and the floor – of his family’s small compound.

“The water table has risen more than usual this year. The toilets are overflowing. We are flooded again,” says the 36-year-old computer technician, standing in a shallow pool of water in his yellow-tiled courtyard.

Read the Full Report

Dans le cadre de l’aide humanitaire que l’UNHCR apporte aux réfugiés au Tchad le Gouvernement fédéral allemand a accordé à l’UNHCR basée au Tchad une subvention à hauteur 2.000.000 € (Environ 1.311.914.000 FCFA) pour son projet intitulé:« Assistance et protection des réfugiés soudanais et des déplacés internes du Tchad»

Cette subvention sert à ces populations d’avoir accès à l’éducation optimale, leur fournir des objets domestiques de base, à promouvoir leur bien être nutritionnel, aux installations des tentes et des infrastructures ainsi que leur amélioration et maintenance, renforcer la protection contre la criminalité.

In coordination with the Inter-Cluster Working Group, the Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) Cluster continues to advocate for non-creation of new camp-like settings in Juba. Humanitarian interventions should be aimed at providing temporary emergency assistance that will not serve as a pull factor for IDPs to remain in the sites. OCHA reports that 15,061 people remain displaced by the insecurity in Juba. Of these, 10,838 people are sheltering in the UN Tong Ping and UN House bases. An estimated 4,223 IDPs are staying in three collective centres.

UNMISS TONGPING

CCCM

• Estimated population figure remains at 4,000.
• CCCM is facilitating movement of people from one part of the site to another to facilitate shelter construction.

WASH

• IOM delivered 66,000 litres of safe drinking water, at a rate of 6.5 L per person per day.
• Five water points and 30 taps are functional, with one tap for every 133 people.
• 56 latrines are functional, with 71 people per latrine. 12 hand washing facilities are installed and functional.
• Ongoing construction of 20 latrines to be completed by 25 July.
• 6 cubic meters de-sludged from the UNMISS latrines by UNMISS truck.
• Construction of 10 bathing shelters ongoing.
• 57 Health Hygiene Promoters (HHPs) are on the ground and working, with one HHP for every 70 people.
• 40 latrine cleaners and garbage collectors are on ground and working.

S&NFI

• Marram delivery resumed with four trucks delivered onsite in readiness for spreading and compacting to begin 25 July.
• Two shelters were completed with plastic sheeting and two frames constructed. Total number of shelters now completed is 17 with capacity to accommodate 700 individuals.

Health

• IOM conducted 169 general health consultations at its temporary clinic.
• Top morbidities were malaria, acute respiratory infection and gunshot wound.
• No new suspected cholera cases reported.

Market Highlights

• The cost of living in South Sudan sustained rising trends during the reporting month. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased in June by 310% year-on-year, the highest in the world and historic ever recorded in the country. The recent fighting in Juba disrupted markets and trade, significantly reducing food availability and consequent remarkable increase in food prices in the capital to as high as 45-80% for legumes, 12-58% for cereals and up to 70-80% for fuel within one week following the cessation of hostilities.

• The South Sudanese pound (SSP) weakened further against the United States (US) dollar in the black market exchanging at an average 48 SSP/1US$ down from 38SSP/1US$ in May. The SSP lost further ground against the dollar in the immediate aftermath of renewed armed fighting in the capital, exchanging at an all-time high of 60 SSP/1US$.

• The country is still experiencing acute fuel shortages, characterized by erratic supply and unwillingness of dealers to sell at government controlled price of SSP 22/litre. Accordingly, hoarding and black market sales of fuel at premium prices was on the rise all over the country. Fuel problem was aggravated by the recent fighting in Juba and consequent disruption of Nimule border operations.

• High cost of transportation, unpassable roads due to seasonal rains and insecurity reversed expected price reduction gains for locally produced cereals following the start of early green harvests in parts of Equatoria, Unity, Lakes and Jonglei. Notably June-July marks the peak of the lean season in many areas in Eastern Equatoria, Upper Nile, Northern Bhar el Ghazal and Warrap, partly explaining the price increases for locally produced cereals. Aweil Town in Northern Bhar el Ghazal has the highest (about SSP 100/ 3.5 kg malwa) cereal prices in the country. Prices of most imported commodities also sustained rising trends across the country in line with currency depreciation, dollar shortages and difficult business environment.

• In the outlook, food prices are expected to increase seasonably in July-August period in line with reduced functionality, low market stocks and poor road access. Households rely highly on markets particularly the urban poor will be the worst hit. The expected early green harvests will bring temporary reprieve for many households in localized net producing areas but the effect will not be widely felt in deficit producing areas due to poor market integration- insecurity and poor roads will prevent trade flows. Beyond August, household food availability and access is expected to improve especially during the main harvest in November-December in parts of Warrap, Northern Bhar el Ghazal and Upper Nile. The recent looting of WFP food and other items in the main warehouse in Juba by armed elements will likely put considerable strain on vulnerable populations in PoCs and IDP camps who rely on humanitarian assistance.

Les commerçants de bétail ont leur marché à Mora, chef-lieu du département du Mayo-Sava dans la région de l’Extrême-Nord et située à 35km de la frontière du Nigéria.

A Mora, le jeudi 21 juillet 2016, ils étaient nombreux, commerçants, autorités traditionnelles, religieuses et administratives locales, venus pour l’inauguration du marché à Bétail.

D’une superficie d’environ 4 hectares, le marché de Mora a dorénavant des infrastructures sécuritaires pour le bétail, des sanitaires, des bureaux pour l’administration du marché, des magasins et hangars de commercialisation et des points d’accès à l’eau potable.

« Ces nouvelles infrastructures viennent à point nommé et vont combler les attentes des populations dans la perspective de la relance des activités socio-économiques », a relevé M. Babila Akaou, Préfet du département du Mayo-Sava pendant la cérémonie officielle d’inauguration du marché.

La situation sécuritaire de la région depuis 2014 a occasionné un afflux massif de déplacés internes dans la ville de Mora. On compte dans cette ville 23 556 personnes déplacées internes (chiffres avril 2016). Les conséquences sur les circuits traditionnels de commercialisation du bétail et des stratégies des producteurs et exportateurs sont directes.

La fermeture des marchés à bétail le long de la frontière a eu pour conséquences immédiates l’engorgement des marchés à l’intérieur du département du Mayo-Tsanaga, la raréfaction des ressources pastorales, l’installation des éleveurs le long de la route nationale N°1 et dans les villages autour de la ville de Mora, la baisse du prix des animaux et la diminution des activités d’embouche bovine et ovine.

Le marché de Mora est le cinquième construit ou réhabilité par le Programme des Nations Unies pour le Développement (PNUD) dans le cadre du projet « Réponse rapide pour le renforcement des capacités de résilience et la prévention des conflits à l’extrême nord et à l’est du Cameroun », financé par le Gouvernement du Japon. Il s’agit des marchés de Zamaï à Mokolo, Ibou à Kousseri, dans la région de l’Extrême Nord et des marchés de Bandongoué à Batouri et de Yokadouma dans la région de l’Est.

Les marchés à bétail sont des lieux d’échange d’animaux sur pied ou de produits animaux entre producteurs, acheteurs, revendeurs et exportateurs. Ils constituent également un cadre de concertation et d’échange d’information entre les acteurs. De ce fait constituent une plateforme essentielle à l’économie locale.

La construction et la réhabilitation des marchés n’est qu’un début de solution aux problèmes socio-économiques que connait la région ; « la communauté humanitaire et les acteurs de développement dans leur ensemble se sont fortement solidarisés du Cameroun et de sa population vulnérable, particulièrement dans les régions de l’Est et de l’Extrême Nord, afin de répondre aux besoins urgents de ces populations qui ont du jour au lendemain perdu leurs moyens d’existence durables » a relevé Mme Najat Rochdi, Représentant Résident du PNUD. « Le PNUD avec l’appui du Japon accompagne le gouvernement camerounais dans ses priorités de résilience. De nouvelles ressources seront dans ce cadre consacrées à l’emploi des jeunes et à leur pleine participation à la cohésion sociale et au développement durable de leur région en 2016/2017, l’année où d’avantages d’efforts seront nécessaires» a-t-elle rajouté.

Le Projet « Cohésion sociale » 2016/2017 financé par le Gouvernement du Japon visera les Jeunes et les populations d’accueil dans trois départements, notamment le Mayo Sava, le Mayo Tsanaga et le Logone et Chari. Ils bénéficieront d’opportunités d’emplois humanitaires à cycle court, et de formations qualifiantes pour pouvoir créer de très petites entreprises et améliorer leurs revenus.

Contact Information Bibiane Ndah Batuo, Responsable communication PNUD ; email : bibiane.ndah@undp.org

It’s looking calm so far this week, but most people remain afraid after a fresh wave of violence swept through Juba earlier this month, said Deepmala Mahla, Mercy Corps’ country director in South Sudan.

Most people expect that the cease-fire, which began July 18, will not hold for long, Mahla said.

According to news reports, violent clashes have killed more than 300 people since July 8, just one day before the country’s five-year anniversary of independence. While the cease-fire has stopped the onslaught of violence for now, many Juba residents are struggling to move forward after having their homes looted or destroyed.

“I’ve heard people say it looks quiet, but it’s not quiet,” Mahla said, referring to the lack of confidence local residents have in the cease-fire.

South Sudan’s violent history South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in July 2011, but political infighting has plagued the country since December 2013.

That violence has forced more than 2.3 million citizens to flee their homes in search of safety. As conflict continues, many families are unable to plant seeds or harvest crops for food. Markets run out of food or are often closed because of fighting. As a result, more than 6 million people across the country do not have enough to eat.

The recent violence adds to the hunger crisis. Mahla said that a few restaurants and markets have opened, but they don’t carry much fresh food and close early so workers can hurry home to safety before the end of the day.

In the meantime, the price of food has skyrocketed and the value of the South Sudan currency has dropped, making it more difficult than ever to get a meal.

Those who lost their homes are sleeping outside. South Sudan’s rainy season, which is now, is creating a breeding ground for mosquitos and cholera.

Mercy Corps responding to Juba violence Once the violence subsided, Mercy Corps responded by providing food, mosquito nets and jerrycans, which are used to hold and transport water, to about 100 households. For the next 45 days, the team in Juba will help with shelter, more mosquito nets, some water and sanitation work and child protection.

En 2014, plus de 527 400 personnes ont pu être aidées dans nos 14 programmes de développement.

Autant de vies changées, comme celle d’Aye qui a pu retrouver le chemin de l’école au Myanmar. Elle bénéficie des cours du soir mis en place par Vision du Monde, pour les enfants qui travaillent la journée afin d’aider leurs parents. Ce programme est une véritable opportunité pour Aye. Elle apprend à écrire, lire, compter, et peut maintenant espérer un avenir meilleur.

Chaque année, grâce à vos dons, vous redonnez espoir à des milliers d’enfants. Découvrez dans notre rapport annuel les actions menées en 2014 ainsi que les témoignages des enfants qui, chaque jour, voient leur destin changer grâce à vous.

En mai, alors que la saison sèche pesait sur la ville de Gao, les autorités locales ont demandé l'appui de la MINUSMA pour fournir de l’eau potable aux résidents de la ville et à leur bétail qui en avait grand besoin.

Ainsi, depuis la mi-mai, la Force de la MINUSMA effectue la distribution d'eau potable aux habitants de la ville ; elle continuera de le faire aussi longtemps que la demande sera exprimée.

Depuis le début de l’année, ce sont plus de 360 000 litres d'eau qui ont été distribués par la Force de la MINUSMA ; des opérations qui ont vu la participation des Casques bleus de quatre pays différents soit le Bangladesh, le Cambodge, le Sénégal et la Chine.

Dernière unité à prêter main forte, la Force de protection chinoise a fourni le 16 juillet dernier une assistance au Quartier 7 de la ville de Gao. « Nous avons distribué aux habitants un total de 20 000 litres d'eau en deux jours, » a indiqué le Lieutenant-colonel Sun Yu, commandant de la compagnie de protection du contingent chinois de la MINUSMA pour le secteur de Gao. « Nous avons rempli notre citerne d'eau avec de l'eau potable à partir de notre usine de traitement de l'eau, puis avec l’aide d’un contact local, nous nous sommes rendus dans le quartier ciblé. Nous avons été chaleureusement accueillis par la population locale, très heureuse de recevoir l'eau,” a-t-il ajouté.

Élément clé de l'opération, l'unité de l'armée malienne locale qui a fourni le soutien en transport, faisant de cette opération un effort local et international.

« Le mandat de la MINUSMA stipule qu’elle doit aider la population locale où et quand cela est possible avec les moyens et les unités disponibles au sein de la Force. Ce plan de distribution d'eau s’inscrit dans cette partie du mandat de la MINUSMA, et nous sommes heureux d'aider nos voisins de la ville de Gao, où nous vivons également, » a déclaré le commandant du secteur Est, le général de brigade Mustafa Rusho, du Bangladesh. « Nous allons continuer à faire ce que nous pouvons pour aider la population locale dans les régions de Gao et Ménaka avec les ressources dont nous disposons, dans les limites de notre mission et en l'application de l'accord de paix, » a-t-il conclu.

Highlights

• The Ministry of Health (MoH) has confirmed the cholera outbreak.
  As of 25 July, a total of 294 suspected cholera cases including 17 deaths have been reported nationwide, with the majority reported in Juba County.

• Latrines in the UN House Protection of Civilian (POC) sites are filling up fast as a result of the regular rains; keeping up with desludging of the latrines is a key to maintain adequate sanitation.
  UNICEF is addressing it with intensified desludging work.

• UNICEF has completed construction of 40 stances of semipermanent latrines in the UNMISS Tomping site, having contributed to attain the Sphere Standards of one latrine for 50 people.

• Education activities have resumed in the UNMISS Tomping site, with 1,080 children registered and the number of temporary learning spaces (TLSs) and volunteer teachers has been increased to support the activities.

Humanitarian Overview

Cholera outbreak has been confirmed by MoH in Juba after 10 of the samples (77 per cent) tested positive for Vibrio Cholera Inaba in the National Public Health Laboratory. As of 25 July, a total of 294 suspected cholera cases including 17 deaths have been reported nationwide, with the majority reported in Juba County. An outbreak investigation team just returned from Terekeka on 25 July, where 12 cases and five deaths from suspected cholera infection have been reported. Stool samples were collected for culture test. Although there has been the cut off of radio communication from Duk, Jonglei for 10 days, a team managed to visit the location by boat from Bor, where 32 cases and four deaths have been reported. In addition, two cases in Maban and one case in Torit have been reported respectively. Rain is exacerbating the situation, undermining sanitation efforts and threatening to further the spread of cholera.

Humanitarian Response

A daily coordination meeting has been instituted by the MoH Cholera Task Force, with joint biweekly WASH and Health cluster meetings was instituted too. A mapping matrix has been developed to show who (which organization) does what activities where; gaps identified in affected areas will be shared to ensure coordinated responses.

Given the increase in number of cases with limited spaces at the Juba Teaching Hospital, the task force is to open additional cholera treatment centres (CTCs) in most affected locations in Juba. In the meantime, preparations are underway to open a rehabilitation and stabilization center at Al Sabah Children’s Hospital.